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No earth shattering news from Mike Nolan’s weekly press conference today. He did say the team tried to get a deal done with quarterback Shaun Hill early in the year, but Hill wanted to wait. Apparently, Hill makes splendid decisions on the field as well as off.

Nolan was also honest about assessing Hill throughout the season. “After Alex was hurt and Trent was the quarterback, my only thoughts for Shaun to play were if something happened to Trent (Dilfer), or if I felt we got to a point in a game that we needed a lift or a boost, and we would put him in,” Nolan said. “But outside of that, those situations never occurred until two weeks ago when Shaun got in there.”

In fact one offensive coach said earlier in the season that were purposely conservative with Dilfer after Smith was injured initially, because they didn’t want Hill in the game. With Hill playing so well, Nolan said he does alter the quarterback situation for next season, if they can get him signed. Nolan said negotiations with Hill are ongoing.

Alex Smith returned to the Bay Area Saturday night after shoulder surgery in Alabama. He has already been to the 49ers’ facility a couple of times for rehab and Nolan anticipates speaking with Smith face to face soon.

Around the league, the view of the 49ers is dim, but most of it doesn’t seem focused on Nolan. Former Bears coach Mike Ditka on NFL Sunday said, “(John York) knows as much about football as I know about cricket.” An anonymous NFL executive said it’s impossibe for anyone to succeed under the 49ers’ current structure.